tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249136132015-02-18T16:04:25.891-05:00 INDY BASEBALL CHATTERThis Blog is dedicated entirely to Independent Baseball<br><br>THE BEST IN INDEPENDENT BASEBALL NEWS. Request a free sample of the Independent Baseball Insider to see what you have been missing. You will be notified when columns resume in March.Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.comBlogger556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-44684215231321513502015-02-18T16:04:00.000-05:002015-02-18T16:04:25.914-05:00INDEPENDENT LEAGUES HAVE 52 PLAYERS TICKETED FOR MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAININGBy the time all position players have reported to spring training in little more than a week, 52 players who have spent time in one or more Independent leagues will be wearing major league uniforms, records compiled by the blog <i>IndyBaseballChatter.com</i> reveal. This is an increase of one over last year and the number of players on 40-man rosters has jumped from 25 to 28. The rest of the players are non-roster invitees.<br /><br />Forty-one pitchers are included.<br /><br />The American Association tops all leagues with 20 players, four more than the Atlantic League, with eight representing the Frontier League and five the Can-Am. Several leagues no longer operating also have representation.<br /><br />The list with major league affiliation and previous Independent leagues and teams, with those who started in a non-affiliated league identified with an asterisk (*) and non-roster players shown with an “n”:<br /><br />Pitchers (41)—nAndrew Albers, Toronto (Quebec, Can-Am League); Dylan Axelrod, Cincinnati (Windy City, Frontier League); Craig Breslow, Boston (New Jersey, Northeast League); nBrian Broderick, Kansas City (Sugar Land, Atlantic League); n*Greg Burke, Toronto (Atlantic City, Atlantic); nAngel Castro, Oakland (Lincoln, American Association); *Aaron Crow, Miami (Fort Worth, American Association); Brandon Cunniff, Atlanta (Southern Illinois and River City, Frontier); Steve Delabar, Toronto (Brockton, Can-Am League, and Florence, Frontier); nDane DeLaRosa, Baltimore (Southern Maryland, Atlantic; El Paso, American Association; and Victoria, Orange County, Long Beach and Yuma, all Golden League); Jon Edwards, Texas (San Angelo, North American League, and Alpine, Pecos League); Luis Garcia, Philadelphia (Newark, Can-Am); nMark Hamburger, Minnesota (St. Paul, American Association); nMark Hendrickson, Baltimore (York, Atlantic); n*Luke Hochevar, Kansas City (Fort Worth, American Association); John Holdzkom, Pittsburgh (Amarillo and Sioux City, American Association, and San Angelo, United League); n*James Hoyt, Houston (Wichita, American Association, and Edinburg and Yuma, North American); Scott Kazmir, Oakland (Sugar Land, Atlantic); nLogan Kensing, Chicago-AL (Bridgeport, Atlantic); Brandon Kintzler, Milwaukee (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, Northern League); nJason Lane, San Diego (Sugar Land and Southern Maryland, Atlantic); nMitch Lively, Washington (San Angelo, United); *Chris Martin, New York-AL (Grand Prairie, American Association); Vidal Nuno, Arizona (Washington, Frontier); *James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie, American Association); nScott Rice, New York Mets (York, Long Island, and Newark, Atlantic); *Tanner Roark, Washington (Southern Illinois, Frontier); nChaz Roe, Baltimore (Laredo, American Association); Drew Rucinski, Los Angeles Angels (Rockford, Frontier); nCody Satterwhite, New York-NL (Sioux City, American Association); *Tanner Scheppers, Texas (St. Paul, American Association); *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth, American Association); Bo Schultz, Toronto (Sioux Falls and Grand Prairie, American Association); nJoe Thatcher, Houston (River City, Frontier); Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota (St. Paul, American Association); *Ian Thomas, Atlanta (York, Atlantic, and Winnipeg, Northern and American Association); nJon Velasquez, New York – NL (Camden, Atlantic, and Rockland, Can-Am); Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle (Tucson, Golden League); Jerome Williams, Philadelphia (Lancaster, Atlantic, and Long Beach, Golden); nDontrelle Willis, Milwaukee (Bridgeport and Long Island, Atlantic); Brad Ziegler, Arizona (Schaumburg, Northern).<br /><br />Catchers (3) – Rene Rivera, Tampa Bay (Camden, Atlantic); nEddy Rodriguez, New York-AL (Sioux Falls and El Paso, American Association); nJose Yepez, Atlanta (Pensacola, American Association, and Gary, Northern).<br /><br />Infielders (4) — n*1B-OF Chris Colabello, Toronto (Worcester and Nashua, Can-Am), *2B-SS Stephen Drew, New York-AL (Camden, Atlantic); n1B Matt Fields, Kansas City (Southern Illinois, Frontier); n1B-OF Jake Fox, Toronto (Somerset, Atlantic).<br /><br />Outfielders (4) — nBen Francisco, Lancaster (Atlantic); *Daniel Nava, Boston (Chico, Golden); David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American); nAntoan Richardson, Texas (Schaumburg, Northern).<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-62505991475122170462015-02-09T16:22:00.002-05:002015-02-09T16:22:49.242-05:00COLABELLO'S STATUS TO BE KNOWN SOON WHILE ANOTHER TRIO EXCELS IN CARIBBEAN SERIESThis could be one of the biggest weeks in longtime Can-Am League star Chris Colabello’s baseball life since the 10-day window after he was designated for assignment by his new team, Toronto, will expire.<br /><br />This means the 31-year-old first baseman-outfielder will either become a free agent or have his contract picked up by another major league team. It seems unlikely he would re-sign a minor league pact with the Blue Jays although Korea or some other foreign league could once again come into play.<br /><br /><b>GIL, FUENMAYOR, MARIN STAND OUT IN CARIBBEAN<br /><br /></b>What a bizarre finish to the Caribbean Series with Cuba, which only scored seven runs in its first four games and down 4-0 in the semifinals, bouncing back to oust Venezuela 8-4, then finish off Mexico 3-2 on Sunday.<br /><br />Two former Independent players had great offensive series for Venezuela with catcher Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association) enhancing his free agent status by going 5-for-11 (.455) with four runs and one RBI in three appearances after hitting .328 during the winter league season and Can-Am MVP Balbino Fuenmayor (Quebec) going 7-for-19 (.368) while playing in all five games. The first baseman, now Kansas City property, had a homer and three runs batted in.<br /><br />Frontier League grad Terance Marin (Evansville, IN), now in the Chicago White Sox system, was a mound standout for Mexico, picking up a win in relief and another with a six-inning start (no earned runs) against Cuba. He had 8.2 innings in all without allowing an earned run.<br /><br />Free agent Gary Majewski (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic League) hurled two scoreless innings over three appearances for Mexico while teammate Marquez Smith (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) went 0-for-5 in his two appearances. He now belongs to Cincinnati. For host Puerto Rico, Rene Rivera (Camden) caught all four games, going 3-for-16 with an RBI and lefty Jon Velasquez (Camden and Rockland County, Can-Am) had two strikeouts in his only appearance of one inning in relief. Rivera now heads to Tampa Bay’s major league camp and Velasquez to the New York Mets. Free agent Mark Serrano (Laredo, TX, American Association) was on the Venezuela roster but did not pitch.<br /><br /><b>WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?<br /></b><br />With the help of Somerset, NJ (Atlantic League) closer and player personnel boss Jon Hunton, we can report on several players on our most recent list of free agents.<br /><br />Pitcher Virgil Vasquez (Southern Maryland, Atlantic) and shortstop Vance Albitz (Lincoln) have retired as players to join the minor league systems of Minnesota and St. Louis, respectively. Veteran lefty Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH, Can-Am) has signed to play for Chunichi in Japan and Jarrett Grube (Southern Maryland) has inked a deal to pitch in Mexico.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-42222756469476143122015-02-03T17:17:00.000-05:002015-02-03T17:17:56.493-05:00CHECKING OUT THE CARIBBEAN SERIES, INCLUDING CUBA'S GURRIEL FAMILYAfter all of the shuffling of rosters that goes on between the individual league championships and the Caribbean Series, I have spotted seven current or former Independent players who are on the 28-man rosters for these climactic winter league games being played now in Puerto Rico. There may be others.<br /><br />The Camden (NJ) RiverSharks of the Atlantic League should have considerable interest with a trio of their former players involved. Catcher Rene Rivera, expected to carry a significant load with Tampa Bay this season, went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Puerto Rico’s opening 5-2 loss to Venezuela. Jon Velasquez, who will be an invitee in the New York Mets’ spring training camp, is on the Puerto Rican mound staff and first baseman Marquez Smith (Cincinnati farm system) is with Mexico. Velasquez also played for Rockland County in the Can-Am League.<br /><br />Another Atlantic Leaguer with Mexico is Gary Majewski, a strong part of the Sugar Land, TX bullpen the last three seasons. Venezuela has a trio of Indy players, including catcher Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association), who played a big role in that opening victory by going 2-for-3 with two runs. He hit .328 during the regular winter league season. Laredo, TX (American Association) right-hander Mark Serrano and first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor (Quebec, Can-Am and recently signed by Kansas City) also play for Venezuela. Fuenmayor was 0-for-4 in the opener.<br /><br /><b>GURRIEL FAMILY WELL REPRESENTED WITH CUBA</b><br /><br />It was significant news last summer when 32-year-old Yuniesky Gurriel became the first player to receive the Cuban government’s approval to play in North America, and the outfielder joined the Can-Am League’s Quebec Capitales. He likely will be back there this season after hitting .321 in 30 games.<br /><br /><i>MLB.com </i>did a major feature on the Gurriel family (spelling it Gourriel) timed to the opening of the Caribbean Series because Lourdes Gurriel, Sr., is a baseball hero in Cuba and he has three quality baseball-playing sons. Yuniesky played center field for Havana this winter although he is not on the Caribbean Series roster, while Yulieski and youngest brother Lourdes, Jr. both are infielders on the team. Yulieski is expected to return to Japan for the regular season and Lourdes may join him. Cuba has dropped its first two games, losing 6-1 to the Dominican Republic today (Tuesday).<br /><br /><b>NAVA MAY TRY HITTING SOUTHPAWS AS LEFTY BATTER<br /></b><br />It is unquestioned that Boston outfielder Daniel Nava has been one of Independent Baseball’s biggest success stories. Now the onetime Golden League Player of the Year (Chico, CA) has his biggest contract at $1.85 million, and the switch-hitter is thinking about trying to bat only from the left side where he has been much stronger.<br /><br />“Essentially, all I’m doing different is just trying to see how lefty on lefty feels,” he told <i>WEEI Radio</i> in Beantown recently. “But I’m still going to be working as a switch-hitter…I really have to see what lefty-lefty feels like. But I’m open to doing (it) to hopefully get myself on the field more and be more productive.”<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-71679978226030313842015-01-28T16:21:00.000-05:002015-01-28T16:21:15.113-05:00RECENT ATLANTIC LEAGUER AMONG SPRING TRAINING INVITEES, BUT 50 STILL IN FREE AGENCYEleven of the 30 major league teams have yet to announce their full list of non-roster invitees to spring training camps starting next month and there will be some late signees, still our records already show 48 players who have spent time in Independent leagues will be among the elite players afforded such opportunities.<br /><br />One impressive name on the list is that of 28-year-old Brian Broderick, who only signed with Kansas City recently after making 60 relief appearances at Sugar Land, TX in the Atlantic League last season (0-2, 11 saves, 2.31 with 65 strikeouts and only nine walks in 62.1 innings).<br /><br />Broderick has been pitching professionally since ’07 (St. Louis, Washington), but the tall right-hander has only 12.1 major league innings (Nationals, 2011).<br /><br />Right-hander Dane DeLaRosa (Southern Maryland, Atlantic, El Paso, TX, American Association and four Golden League teams no longer in existence) signed as a free agent with Baltimore this week, and received a camp invitation. San Diego added lefty Jason Lane (Sugar Land and Southern Maryland) and first baseman Matt Fields (Southern Illinois, Frontier League) got an invite from the Royals.<br /><br />Catcher Eddy Rodriguez (El Paso and Sioux Falls, SD, American Association) signed with the New York Yankees. It would not surprise if he gets a camp invitation although the Bombers have not announced their additions to the established 40-man roster.<br /><br /><b>STILL AVAILABLE</b><br /><br />It might be starting to become nervous time for another group of onetime Independent players who were in major league organizations when last season ended and are without jobs in affiliated or Indy leagues.<br /><br />While we may have overlooked a late signing or two and a few players likely will retire, the list maintained by the <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> column still shows exactly 50 such players. They are:<br /><br />RHP (23) – Eric Brooks, Robert Coello, Michael Colla, Shane Dyer, Jarrett Grube, Erik Hamren, Ray Hanson, Tyler Herron, Shawn Hill, Josh Kinney, Anthony Lerew, Mike McClendon, Kyler Newby, Michael Nix, Mark Pope, Scott Richmond, Jake Roberts, Cody Scarpatta, Mark Serrano, Daniel Stange, Brett Tomko, Virgil Vasquez, Zak Wasserman.<br /><br />LHP (7) – Brian Burres, Tony Davis, Zach Kroenke, Nate Reed, Will Startup, Joe Thatcher, Raul Valdes.<br /><br />C (7) – (Also OF) Alex Burg, Mitch Canham, Jose Gil, Ralph Henriquez, J.R. Towles, J.T. Wise, Zach Zaneski.<br /><br />IF (6) – (SS) Vance Albitz, (3B) Mike Costanzo, Maikol Gonzalez, (1B) Cody Overbeck, (SS) Jaime Pedroza, Nate Spears.<br /><br />OF (7) – Cory Aldridge, Brandon Boggs, Yusuf Carter, Justin Christian, Tyler Graham, Dustin Martin, Dustin Richardson.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-3454642016709951892015-01-23T16:31:00.000-05:002015-01-23T16:31:18.201-05:00INDEPENDENTS PAVE WAY FOR STILL MORE TO COACH FOR MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONSIt never ceases to surprise this writer how many uniformed personnel (players, coaches, managers) are getting fresh opportunities with major league organizations after being in Independent leagues.<br /><br />These are only a few of the recent moves we have seen:<br /><br />**Longtime Indy infielder Iggy Suarez after failing to reach the majors as a player, is now the hitting coach for Lowell, MA in the Boston system. He did play in the Red Sox chain from the time he was 22 until he reached 28, then spent four seasons in the Atlantic League (Somerset, NJ, Lancaster, PA, Southern Maryland (Waldorf), Sugar Land, TX and Bridgeport, CT, the latter in 2013. He is only 33.<br /><br />**In a similar path, 19-year minor leaguer Liu Rodriguez is getting an opportunity at 38 as a minor league coach for Milwaukee. He played in Independent leagues from ’06 to ’12, with Atlantic League stops at Newark, NJ and five years between Southern Maryland and York, PA. He also spent time in the Golden League.<br /><br />**A newcomer in the Los Angeles Dodgers system at Ogden, UT is noted slugger Darryl Brinkley, who started his pro journey at 25 in Winnipeg (then Northern League, now American Association). Brinkley hit .399 at Calgary (Northern League) in ’07, and also made Indy stops at Saskatoon (Prairie League), New Jersey (Little Falls) in the Northeast and Can-Am Leagues plus Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic and Edmonton in the Golden. He was in some of those cities more than once.<br /><br />**Joe Espada, who once played in the Central League (Pensacola, FL), is the New York Yankees’ new third base coach. Only 39, he had the same job for four seasons with Miami.<br /><br />**Butch Henry, who managed El Paso, TX in the American Association for several seasons, has been hired as pitching coach for the Yankees’ short season team at Staten Island, NY.<br /><br />Then there is the case of former pitcher Jason Simontacchi, recently promoted to Double-A pitching coach for St. Louis. He was in Joplin, MO where the American Association has a new team this season (Blasters) as part of the Cardinals’ winter caravan and talked about how playing Independent Baseball years ago helped him:<br /><br />“I needed to develop a little more, develop my pitches and get back some of my confidence that I lost in the two years prior to that (affiliated leagues) because I wasn’t pitching very well,” he told <i>The Joplin Globe.</i> “I went there (Springfield, IL., Frontier League) and pitched better and it kind of got me on a roll a little bit.” That was pretty modest. Simontacchi went 10-2 that season, was named Pitcher of the Year, and helped Springfield to the league title.<br /><br />He was in the majors four years later, starting out 7-1, 2.82 in his first 13 starts for St. Louis. Simontacchi finished his pitching career in the Atlantic League (Long Island, NY) and Lancaster.<br /><br /><b>PLAYER MOVES</b><br /><br />The newest trio of Indy invitees to major league spring training all have Atlantic League experience. Outfielder Ben Francisco (Lancaster) will be with Arizona, Logan Kensing (Bridgeport) with the Chicago White Sox and longtime veteran Dontrelle Willis (Bridgeport and Long Island) with Milwaukee.<br /><br />Yoslan Herrera (Lancaster) was scheduled to be back in camp with the Los Angeles Angels for whom he had a 2.70 ERA in 20 appearances last season, but a deal was worked out whereby Herrera would get his release in order to play in Japan (Yokohama), presumably for more guaranteed money.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-48497474158417139142015-01-19T14:42:00.001-05:002015-01-19T14:42:54.984-05:00SUSSEX OFF AND RUNNING; MORE PLAYERS GET SPRING TRAINING INVITATIONSMore challenges lie ahead before anyone knows how successful the Can-Am League's new Sussex County Miners will be, but General Manager Dave Chase certainly has the New Jersey team off to a nice offseason start.<br /><br />Chase, a real vet when it comes to minor league franchises, tells us he has been very pleased with the media reception, at one point saying he was "overwhelmed" by it. His first major hit was his ability to get two-time American Association Manager of the Year Steve Shirley to guide the Miners since it will take a seasoned leader to secure a solid roster.<br /><br />Chase has a four-person sales staff out working to build the fan and sponsor base.<br /><br /><b>MORE MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING INVITATIONS<br /><br /></b>The American Association, already assured of strong representation in major league spring training camps, keeps getting good news, and I am not just talking about the fact Fort Worth, TX product Max Scherzer is joining Washington with his rich new contract.<br /><br />Right-handers Cody Satterwhite (Sioux City, IA) and James Hoyt (Wichita, KS) have joined the major league contingent with the New York Mets and Houston, respectively. Hoyt was part of the five-player swap in which the Astros received Evan Gattis from Atlanta. Hoyt, who does not have major league experience, also pitched for two North American League teams (Yuma, AZ and Edinburg, TX) during his '11-'12 seasons in Independent Baseball.<br /><br />The Mets also will have another right-hander in camp in Jon Velasquez, who pitched for Rockland (Pomona, NY) in the Can-Am League and Camden, NJ of the Atlantic League. And Atlantic Leaguer Yoslan Herrera (Lancaster, PA) will be back in camp with the Los Angeles Angels for whom he logged some time last season.<br /><br /><b>SAME TEAM, SAME POSITION<br /><br /></b>Outfielder Brian Anderson is being given a new chance (although in minor league camp) with his original organization, the Chicago White Sox. After logging 334 major league games (.227-22-80) with the Chisox (and briefly with Boston), Anderson, who turns 33 in March, tried his hand at pitching, including five relief appearances in 2012 (0-1, 1.80) with Somerset, NJ in the Atlantic League. The onetime University of Arizona star, has once again signed on for a look in the White Sox's minor league camp as an outfielder. <br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-59622492724222302902015-01-12T16:38:00.002-05:002015-01-12T16:38:57.959-05:00STRONG CAN-AM SEASON AS CLOSER GIVES SANCHEZ NEW LIFESalvador Sanchez appears to be a really good test case to see how far one can advance in an affiliated league after converting from the outfield and getting one season of accelerated work as a closer in the Can-Am League.<br /><br />The Miami Marlins have signed the 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander and placed him on their Triple-A New Orleans roster, based in great measure on a 25-save season with the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls). Sanchez will pitch at 29 in 2015, but only the last four years of his first decade in pro baseball have come as a pitcher.<br /><br />The New York City native hit as many as 16 home runs in a season and climbed to Class AA during his nine seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization. He only started pitching in the ’11 season, and did not get many innings until ’13 in the Double-A Southern League where he posted a 2.72 ERA in 27 appearances for Birmingham, AL.<br /><br />New Jersey worked the right-hander hard last season, and he responded with a 4-2 record, 2.41 ERA and the 25 saves. His other numbers were good, too, with only 33 hits allowed in 41.1 innings during 42 appearances, and he fanned 46 and walked only 12. Sanchez logged another seven appearances, including two in the playoffs, for Somerset, NJ of the Atlantic League after the Can-Am season ended.<br /><br /><b>ANOTHER CONVERTED OUTFIELDER</b><br /><br />Slender southpaw Leyson Septimo also converted from the outfield to the mound, but he did so much earlier in his career, eventually logging 21 major league appearances with the parent White Sox (0-2, 5.14) in 2012. He played briefly in the Atlantic League (Southern Maryland, Waldorf) last summer (0-0, 14.14 in eight relief outings), and now is getting a new start at age 29 with Atlanta’s top farm club in Gwinnett, GA.<br /><br /><b>NEW ADDRESSES FOR BURGAMY, MINICOZZI</b><br /><br />Well-traveled Independent Baseball veterans Mark Minicozzi and Brian Burgamy, both borderline major leaguers, have new homes.<br /><br />Minicozzi, mostly a first baseman these days, joined the Washington Nationals organization after being in the San Francisco farm system. He has played with Winnipeg and Kansas City, KS in the American Association, Worcester, MA in the Can-Am League and Camden, NJ in the Atlantic League.<br /><br />Burgamy, known largely for his bat and listed now in the outfield, has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers system after playing in the minors for the New York Mets. He has made Atlantic League stops in York, PA, Camden and Sugar Land, TX as well as with St. Paul, MN in the American Association.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-40437146951105069182015-01-07T16:24:00.001-05:002015-01-09T15:07:53.706-05:00CAN-AM'S FUENMAYOR MAKING ROYALS TAKE NOTICE WITH BIG NUMBERS IN VENEZUELAThe Kansas City Royals must be happy with their recent signing of Balbino Fuenmayor out of the Can-Am League (Quebec) because the corner infielder is not only putting up great numbers in Venezuela, but they look even more impressive when compared to Arizona outfielder David Peralta, who made a big impact in his rookie season in the National League.<br /><br />Fuenmayor has 10 homers and 38 runs batted in along with a .315 average in the 42 games he has played (45-for-143), while Peralta’s production is slightly lower in the same winter league. Peralta (Amarillo, TX and Wichita, KS, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American League) is at .319 with 32 RBI and only a pair of homers in 55 games (67-for-210).<br /><br />Fuenmayor won both the home run (23) and RBI (99) titles in the Can-Am and was runner-up in average (.347). Peralta played almost every day after the Diamondbacks brought him up last season, hitting .286 with eight homers and 36 batted in for 88 games.<br /><br />In other winter league play, free agent catcher Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association) is showing some offensive punch in Venezuela with .328-6-24 numbers for 37 appearances and American Association (Grand Prairie, TX) grad Ryan Searle continues to set the pace in strikeouts in Australia (56 in 48.2 innings) although his ERA, mostly in a starting role, is only at 4.25. Two other American Association hurlers have much better ERAs in the same league, Jason Jarvis (Grand Prairie) is at 2.21 for 11 relief outings and Morgan Coombs (Gary, IN) has won six of seven decisions and has a 2.36 mark mostly as a starter.<br /><br /><b>BRESLOW NOW OFFICIAL, CHRIS MARTIN AVAILABLE</b><br /><br />Boston finally announced its re-signing of lefty reliever Craig Breslow today (Wednesday). Reports have had the onetime Can-Am League (New Jersey Jackals) hurler getting $2 million after the Sox earlier rejected his $4 million option.<br /><br />An original Independent find, right-hander Chris Martin was designated for assignment this week by Colorado. The onetime Grand Prairie hurler, 28, got into his first 16 major league games last season, ending up 0-0, 6.75 out of the bullpen with 14 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.<br /><br /><b>JUSTIN CHRISTIAN GOES YARD<br /><br /></b>Outfielder Justin Christian (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League, and River City, Frontier League) is another original Independent signee making news. While known primarily for his speed, the free agent has homered twice in four postseason games in Mexico. The occasional major leaguer only hit three blasts in 61 regular-season games.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-82571705220019806982014-12-22T16:29:00.003-05:002015-01-09T15:06:56.276-05:00ALBERS RETURNS FROM KOREA, GETS MAJOR LEAGUE BID FROM TORONTOWith left-handed pitching always at a premium, Andrew Albers is back from a one-year stay in Korea to try and regain a major league job, this time with Toronto. Albers got his feet on the ground professionally during a strong season in the bullpen for the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League in 2010 (3-0, 17 saves, 1.40 in 40 appearances), then signed with Minnesota and less than three years later got a nice 10-game starting trial with the Twins (2-5, 4.05) before going abroad for a sizeable payday.<br /><br />The Blue Jays not only signed the 29-year-old former University of Kentucky hurler but invited him to their major league spring training camp.<br /><br /><b>ONE YEAR AFTER AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, A MAJOR LEAGUE OPPORTUNITY<br /><br /></b>American Association grad Mark Hamburger also has a major league invitation. The righty is only one year removed from starting for the St. Paul (MN) Saints (6-8, 3.26), and Minnesota obviously liked what it saw in the 27-year-old during his one season, mostly in the bullpen, for their top two farm clubs to earn the major league opportunity. He did have five appearances with Texas in ’11.<br /><br /><b>TWO QUICK MOVES FOR SUGAR LAND’S BRODERICK<br /><br /></b>An Independent stint also seems to be paying off for right-hander Brian Broderick, who put up a strong 2.31 earned run average for 62.1 innings in the Atlantic League (Sugar Land, TX) last season.<br /><br />The Los Angeles Angels had only recently signed Broderick, 28, after seeing him in the Mexican League this fall, and now they have traded him to Kansas City in order to pick up second baseman Johnny Giavotelli, who has major league time in four seasons. There has not been any word whether Broderick may get an opportunity in the Royals’ major league camp.<br /><br /><b>‘FAMILY’ TRADES HIM AWAY</b><br /><br />Matt Robertson will have a story to tell his grandchildren years from now.<br /><br />He can build up a great tale how his own family traded him. The youngest of the four Robertson brothers who run the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts, Matt did not get much chance as a starting pitcher while in the American Association last season. This was the role where he had been successful at Emporia (KS) State. So, the team dealt him to the Frontier League (Florence, KY), where he supposedly will return to starting.<br /><br />I am guessing the Robertsons will have some fun talking about the trade at the Christmas dinner table.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. <a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">Request a free sample column</a> from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.</b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-54294824065539598852014-12-13T16:44:00.002-05:002014-12-13T16:44:39.944-05:00FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUERS JAKE FOX AND SCOTT RICE HAVE MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP INVITATIONSThe Atlantic League should be beaming over a couple of recent signings, both of which have resulted in major league spring training invitations.<br /><br />Jake Fox, the 2013 Player of the Year, has signed with Toronto, where power always seems to be revered, and lefty reliever Scott Rice will be back in camp with the New York Mets.<br /><br />Fox hit 38 home runs between the Mexican League and Philadelphia’s Double-A farm club in Reading, PA this past summer, but the Phillies did not choose to bring him up in September. Right-handed hitter has not been in the big leagues since 2011 (Baltimore) so he will be out to break that drought. Now 32, the University of Michigan product, who can play most any position including catcher, has had three stints at Somerset, NJ, including nearly the full season in ’13 when he banged 25 homers, drove in 82 and hit .310 as the Atlantic League’s top player. The Phils let him go at the end of this past season so he could help the Patriots try to reclaim the Atlantic League championship.<br /><br />Rice was a popular–and busy–reliever in 2013 when he finally broke through to the majors, ending a 14-year effort to get there. He appeared in 73 games as a 31-year-old rookie with the Mets, compiling a 3.71 ERA, and started ’14 with New York (5.93 in 32 outings) in ’14 before undergoing surgery in July to remove a bone spur in his left elbow. He is expected to be fully healthy when spring training starts. Rice has pitched for Long Island, NY, York, PA, and Newark, NJ in various Atlantic League stints.<br /><br /><b>FROM JETER GAME HEROICS TO TEXAS RANGERS</b><br /><br />Fleet outfielder Antoan Richardson (Schaumburg, IL, now a Frontier League city), who made the most of a September call-up to the New York Yankees, including scoring the winning run on Derek Jeter’s single in the star shortstop’s career finale at Yankee Stadium, has signed with the Texas Rangers and been invited to major league camp.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-27467924524401299762014-12-05T17:18:00.001-05:002014-12-05T17:18:19.687-05:00GREG BURKE GETS A MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING INVITECatching up with a few meaningful transactions in this interim period before next week’s Winter Meetings and next Thursday’s <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> column…<br /><br />**Right-hander Greg Burke, who started his professional career with the Atlantic City (NJ) Surf (Atlantic League), has another major league opportunity within reach. Colorado re-signed Burke and has invited him to the Rockies’ major league spring training camp in Arizona.<br /><br />**Two other righties, Kenn Kasparek and Logan Kensing, have been signed as free agents with new organizations. Kasparek, who once played for Fargo, ND (American Association), has a Double-A deal with Baltimore. Kensing (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic) is a notch higher in Triple-A with the Chicago White Sox.<br /><br />**First baseman Marquez Smith (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) has a new contract with Cincinnati and is on the Triple-A Louisville, KY roster.<br /><br />**Outfielder Javier Herrera (Yuma, AZ, Golden League, and Southern Illinois and Rockford, IL, both Frontier League) and right-hander Nick Sarianides (Trois-Rivieres, Can-Am League, and Rockford) have new deals with the old organizations. Herrera is the San Francisco, Sarianides with Arizona.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-37772782335353213202014-11-21T16:14:00.000-05:002014-11-21T16:14:21.827-05:00COUNTING INDY NOSES WELL AHEAD OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING PLUS NEWS ON SEVERAL HIRESMajor league teams had until midnight Thursday to promote players to the 40-man roster which will protect them from next month’s Rule 5 draft. Only one former Independent player showed up this time, that being onetime Frontier League right-hander Brandon Cunniff (Southern Illinois and River City) to Atlanta’s roster, as we reported to subscribers in yesterday’s <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> column.<br /><br />It never is a shock to see a couple of Indy grads taken in the Rule 5 during the Winter Meetings, and players still have another avenue of non-roster invitations to train with the big guys come February and March. More than 50 onetime Independent standouts have been among the fortunate group in major league camps in recent seasons, and that number could even go higher this time given the fact that if we count prime free agents such as (alphabetically) Craig Breslow, Stephen Drew, Luke Hochevar, Max Scherzer and Joe Thatcher 33 of these players are already ticketed for the big-league camps.<br /><br /><b>BRIAN SWEENEY JOINS PHILLIES SYSTEM</b><br /><br />I have had a soft spot for Brian Sweeney ever since this Independent original (Lafayette, IN, Heartland League, 1996) was one of the first players I interviewed early in the <i>Insider</i> days. The Yonkers, NY native had a nice way about him.<br /><br />Sweeney, who turned 40 this summer, eventually got into 73 major league games (4-2, two saves, 3.41) during his 18-year playing career, playing with Seattle and San Diego. He also spent three seasons in Japan, and the right-hander started one game for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots (Atlantic League) in 2011 (a victory with seven innings of four-hit, two-run baseball) before the New York Mets signed him to play at Triple-A Buffalo, NY.<br /><br />Sweeney has just been hired to be a pitching coach in the Philadelphia farm system.<br /><br /><b>ATLANTIC LEAGUE MANAGERIAL NEWS</b><br /><br />Butch Hobson proved long ago that he is one of the best Independent managers, and Lancaster, PA has to feel good that he will be returning to help the Barnstormers defend their Atlantic League title. The league also got a new managerial face this week when Bridgeport, CT announced it had hired Ricky VanAsselberg, who already has four Independent championships on his resume.<br /><br />“He certainly knows how to get players, including vets,” one longtime Independent league official told me this week.<br /><br />VanAsselberg won two United League titles (Alexandria, LA) and two more in the American Association (Shreveport-Bossier, LA and Grand Prairie, TX), the last in 2011.<br /><br /><b>VALDES SHARP</b><br /><br />Lefty Raul Valdes, a free agent after spending 2014 in the Toronto organization (briefly with the Blue Jays), is having another impressive winter league season in the Dominican Republic. The former Can-Am Leaguer (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH) is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA, allowing only 12 hits and five walks in 26 innings covering four starts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-76641426575016854032014-11-12T12:27:00.000-05:002014-11-12T12:27:13.490-05:00NEARLY 80 FORMER INDEPENDENT STANDOUTS NOW FREE AGENTSA few more onetime Independent players have received new minor league contracts from their major league organizations although a great many more have been declared free agents.<br /><br />The most recent signings we have seen include right-handed pitcher Tim Dillard (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League) with Milwaukee, first baseman Matt Fields (Southern Illinois, Frontier League) with Kansas City, and both first baseman Seth Loman (St. George, UT, Golden League) and catcher Jose Yepez (Pensacola, FL, American Association, and Gary, IN, Northern League) with Atlanta. Loman has a Double-A deal, the others received Triple-A contracts.<br /><br />Max Scherzer (Fort Worth, TX, American Association) is easily the highest profile free agent among those who have played Independent Baseball, although the list compiled for the <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> includes 76 other players. The list (those who were in the major leagues at any time during 2014 are in bold face):<br /><br />RHP (31): Mitch Atkins, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Eric Brooks, Greg Burke, Robert Coello, Michael Colla, Dane DeLaRosa, Julio DePaula, Shane Dyer, Jarrett Grube, Erik Hamren, Tyler Herron, Shawn Hill, Josh Judy, Kenn Kasparek, Logan Kensing, Josh Kinney, Michael Lee, Anthony Lerew, Mitch Lively, Terance Marin, Mike McClendon, Kyler Newby, Michael Nix, Mark Pope, Scott Richmond, Mark Serrano, Daniel Stange, Brett Tomko, Virgil Vasquez, Zak Wasserman. <br /><br />LHP (13): Kyle Anderson, Craig Breslow, Brian Burres, Tony Davis, Chad James, Kris Johnson, Zach Kroenke, Jason Lane, James Leverton, Efrain Nieves, Greg Smith, Joe Thatcher, Raul Valdes. <br /><br />C (9): Craig Albernaz, (OF) Alex Burg, Mitch Canham, Jose Gil, Ralph Henriquez, Eddy Rodriguez, J.R. Towles, J.T. Wise, Zach Zaneski. <br /><br />IF (14): (SS) Vance Albitz, (OF) Brian Burgamy, (3B) Mike Costanzo, Maikol Gonzalez, (SS) Daniel Mayora, (1B) Mark Minicozzi, (1B) Cody Overbeck, (SS) Jaime Pedroza, (1B-OF) Brock Peterson, Anthony Seratelli, (1B) Curt Smith, Marquez Smith, Nate Spears, (SS) Hainley Statia. <br /><br />OF (9): Cory Aldridge, Brandon Boggs, Yusuf Carter, Justin Christian, Javier Herrera, Quincy Latimore, Dustin Martin, Antoan Richardson, Burt Reynolds.<br /><br /><b>ONETIME RELUCTANT INDY HURLER CHANGES HIS MIND</b><br /><br />Brandon Cunniff feared his professional career might be at an end when the Marlins, who had drafted him, released him when he was only 21. He did not want to play Independent Baseball, at least initially.<br /><br />“When I showed up to spring training (with River City at O’Fallon, MO, in 2011), talked to the guys and saw the talent that some of the guys had, I was like ‘wow, this is just like affiliated ball’. I really just didn’t know what to expect (until that time).” The right-handed hurler spent two plus seasons in the Frontier League (River City and Southern Illinois) when the Atlanta Braves came calling. He has had a year and a half in the Braves’ farm system now, including much of 2014 with Class AA Mississippi, and was rewarded this fall with an invitation that only major league prospects receive of going to the Arizona Fall League.<br /><br />Still only 26, Cunniff has prospered in the AFL, too, taking a 2-0 record and two saves along with a 3.46 ERA over 10 appearances (13 innings) into the final days of the season. <br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-58617577467174884212014-10-31T16:54:00.000-04:002014-11-01T20:44:52.473-04:00CHECKING OUT A RUMOR PLUS A SOME NICE WORLD SERIES LINKSA word to the wise: Do not believe those rumors that the American Association is planning to expand to Brownsville, TX. One owner is believed to be stirring the pot, but the stories that say the league has been involved are not true.<br /><br /><b>WORLD SERIES RINGS LIKELY</b><br /><br />While the Independent leagues did not have any players in this year's World Series, the Giants are not without former Indy people in their organization. As starters, coaches Andy Skeels (current Atlantic League city Somerset, NJ as well as numerous other non-affiliated spots), Ken Joyce (Northeast League) and Todd Linden (North American League) all work in the minor league system.<br /><br />Speaking of coaches, congratulations are in order to onetime Quebec Manager Darren Bush (he also had a few other Indy stops) for moving up from bullpen coach to hitting coach at Oakland. New Athletics assistant hitting and catching coach Marcus Jensen also played Independent Baseball.<br /><br /><b>FROM BEST PROSPECT TO MAJORS STILL A BIG CLIMB</b><br /><br />Before anyone gets overly giddy for the chances of Baseball America's top Independent prospect Eric Anderson making the majors, none of the last five have gotten that far to this point. Anderson was a rookie right-hander this season with Normal, IL in the Frontier League. History says he will get a chance in a major league farm system.<br /><br /><b>WHO IS HOT IN WINTER BASEBALL?</b><br /><br />Free agent corner infielder Andy Marte (York, PA, Atlantic League) and New York Yankees catching hopeful Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association) have hot bats in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, respectively. Marte has three homers and is hitting .367 (11-for-30) while Gil is at .345 (10-for-29) with one homer.<br /><br />Right-hander Tim Dillard (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic) has allowed only three hits and one run over 10.1 innings in nine appearances in Venezuela. He has struck out 12.<b></b><br /><br /><br /><div align="CENTER"><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> </div><br /><div align="CENTER"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html%20">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /></div>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a><br /><br /><br />Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-12583773088259977782014-10-24T15:36:00.002-04:002014-10-24T15:37:46.412-04:00CATCHING UP WITH PLAYER TRANSACTIONS, THE WINTER LEAGUES AND THE AFLA surprising release we picked up today. Julio DePaula, who made that meteoric climb from York, PA (Atlantic League) to the Baltimore Orioles in 11 days in mid-summer, has been given free agency. He had not been in a major league uniform since 2007 (Minnesota) when he reported to the Orioles for a day before being designated for assignment and eventually returning to Class AA Bowie, MD.<br /><br /><b>BEVY OF INDEPENDENT PLAYERS IN WINTER BASEBALL<br /></b><br />While the winter league season still is young, two hitters who had strong regular seasons are off to flying starts. San Francisco hopeful Mark Minicozzi, a well-traveled Independent vet, is hitting .417 (15-for-36) after 10 games in Venezuela. The versatile Minicozzi has two homers and has driven in eight runs. His Independent time was in the American Association (Kansas City, KS and Winnipeg), Can-Am League (Worcester, MA) and Atlantic League (Camden, NJ).<br /><br />Third baseman Andy Marte, who was with the parent Arizona Diamondbacks for a very brief time this summer, has started fast in the Dominican Republic by going 5-for-11 with a homer and seven RBI in only three games. Now a free agent, Marte spent his Indy time at York.<br /><br />Among pitchers, Chris Smith (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic, and Wichita, KS, American Association) has worked 12 innings in two starts in Venezuela without allowing an earned run. He is in the San Diego minor league system.<br /><br /><b>CATCHING UP WITH ARIZONA FALL LEAGUERS</b><br /><br />The only two former Independent players we have identified as playing in the Arizona Fall League are struggling so far. Frontier League grads Brandon Cunniff (Southern Illinois)and Alex Smith (River City) have 4.76 and 11.81 earned run averages, respectively. Both have worked five plus innings in multiple appearances. Cunniff is in the Atlanta farm system while Smith is with the New York Yankees.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-83014226593941701542014-10-10T17:13:00.000-04:002014-10-10T17:13:00.322-04:00TOP SHELF INDY GRADS MARTE, FEIERABEND LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIESA great number of former Independent players with major league organizations will be looking for new contracts once the World Series is over, but two of the record 41 players who were active in the big leagues this season have gotten a jump by declaring free agency. Both played their Indy baseball at York, PA (Atlantic League).<br /><br />Third baseman Andy Marte logged a few days with Arizona this season, and had a banner year with the Diamondbacks’ top farm club in Reno, NV. Lefty Ryan Feierabend spent most of the year with Texas’s Triple-A club in Round Rock, though he also logged time with the parent Rangers.<br /><br />Right-hander Bo Schultz got his first taste of the majors during a couple of stints with Arizona (four appearances; eight innings), and was 10-8 at Reno. He was picked up via waivers this week by Toronto where he will try for a slot next spring.<br /><br /><b>FRESH START IN TRIPLE-A FOR THIS CATCHER</b><br /><br />Ryan Eigsti, at one time with Frontier League power Southern Illinois (Marion), has seen his fortunes change. Kansas City signed the catcher and placed him on the roster of its top farm club in Omaha, NE.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-74403913872785543532014-10-06T15:09:00.002-04:002014-10-10T15:32:58.759-04:00LIKE MAJORS, IT TOOK 413-PITCH MARATHON TO DECIDE ATLANTIC LEAGUEMajor League Baseball does not have anything on the Atlantic League when it comes to exhausting postseason games.<br /><br />The season finale in the Atlantic, which ended up with Lancaster, PA winning its second championship, included back-and-forth leads between the Barnstormers and Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters over 13 gripping innings that required four hours and 40 minutes to play. Gabe Jacobo’s walkoff home run in the bottom of the 13th won it to the delight of most of the 6,084 fans, giving Lancaster a three-game sweep.<br /><br />Fifteen combined pitchers three 413 pitches (225 by Sugar Land) with 30 hits, six home runs, 12 walks and 22 strikeouts. Twenty-eight runners were left on base in the 8-7 contest. Jacobo had a double in addition to two homers and drove in four runs. Delwyn Young homered twice for the Skeeters.<br /><br /><b></b>INDEPENDENTS MAY GET SHUT OUT IN LCS AND WORLD SERIES<br /><br />Unless Washington can reel of three consecutive wins to erase its 2-0 deficit against San Francisco or Kansas City elects to activate reliever Aaron Crow (Fort Worth, TX, American Association) for the American League Championship Series against Baltimore, not a single Independent Baseball player will get to experience a League Championship Series or World Series this year. Tanner Roark (Southern Illinois, Frontier League) carries the current Indy hopes with Washington. Max Scherzer (Fort Worth) was the Game 1 starter for Detroit in its Division Series loss to Baltimore. Scott Kazmir (Sugar Land) of Oakland and John Holdzkom (Amarillo, TX, and Sioux City, IA, American Association, and San Angelo, TX, United League) of Pittsburgh had their hopes of going on dashed in the wild-card games.<br /><br /><b>95 WINS FOR INDY HURLERS</b><br /><br />The final tally for onetime Independent hurlers in the major leagues during the regular season showed 95 victories and 73 defeats with Scherzer on top with 18 wins followed by 15 for both Roark and Kazmir.<br /><br /><b>‘PERCEPTION OF AGE’ NOT HELPING JASON LANE<br /><br /></b>One of the many players whose future is an unknown is Jason Lane (Sugar Land and Southern Maryland, Atlantic League), but the outfielder-turned-pitcher seems to carry an extremely positive attitude as he prepares for the winter season in Venezuela.<br /><br />Lane won praise this summer when he became a rarity at the age of 37 to make his first major league mound start and held Atlanta to one run in six-plus innings for San Diego. “It’s the perception of age that works against me,” the California native told The Santa Rosa Press Democrat recently. “But the odd thing is that I’ve only been pitching for a few years (starting, primarily, at Sugar Land in 2012). My arm is really like a 27-year-old.<br /><br />“I’m just very thankful for the Padres organization giving me a shot for the short time I was up there (10.1 innings, 0-1, 0.87 over two times called up).” Lane, who said he is open to most any offer the team makes but insists “I’ll fight to get back there (majors)”, also pointed out he never missed a start at Triple-A El Paso, where he went 9-9 with a 4.15 ERA.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for the remainder of 2014 only $6.99 per month.</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-35256190509641109002014-09-25T13:59:00.002-04:002014-09-25T13:59:54.016-04:00INDEPENDENT HURLERS COMBINE FOR 91 MAJOR LEAGUE WINSNineteen former Independent pitchers have earned at least one win this major league season (through Wednesday, September 24), with a total of 91 victories. The list:<br /><br />•Detroit’s Max Scherzer, Fort Worth , TX, American Association, earned 17 wins.<br />•Washington’s Tanner Roark, Southern Illinois, IL, Frontier League, earned 15 wins.<br />•Oakland’s Scott Kazmir, Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic League, earned 14 wins.<br />•Kansas City’s Aaron Crow, Fort Worth, TX, American Association, earned 6 wins.<br />•Philadelphia’s Jerome Williams, Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League, and Long Beach, CA, Golden League, earned 6 wins while pitching for Houston, Texas and Philadelphia.<br />•Seattle’s James Paxton, Grand Prairie, TX, American Association, earned 6 wins.<br />•Arizona’s Brad Ziegler, Schaumburg, IL, Northern League, earned 5 wins.<br />•Milwaukee’s Brandon Kintzler, St.Paul, MN, American Association, and Winnipeg, MB, American Association, earned 3 wins.<br />•Seattle’s Tom Wilhelmsen, Tucson, AZ, Golden League, earned 3 wins.<br />•Toronto’s Steve Delabar, Brockton, MA, Can-Am League, and Florence, KY, Frontier, earned 3 wins.<br />•Arizona’s Vidal Nuno, Washington, PA, Frontier League, earned 2 wins while pitching for the New York Yankees and Arizona.<br />•Boston’s Craig Breslow, New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls), now in the Can-Am League, earned 2 wins.<br />•Los Angeles (AL) Joe Thatcher, River City, MO, Frontier League, earned 2 wins while pitching for Arizona and the Los Angeles Angels.<br />•Minnesota’s Caleb Thielbar, St. Paul, MN, American Association, earned 2 wins.<br />•With one win apiece were Atlanta’s Ian Thomas, Winnipeg, MB, American Association, Cincinnati’s Dylan Axelrod, Windy City, Crestwood, IL, Frontier League, Los Angeles Angels’ Yoslan Herrera, Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League, the New York Mets’ Scott Rice, York, PA, Atlantic League, and Newark, NJ, Can-Am League, and Pittsburgh’s John Holdzkom, Amarillo, TX, and Sioux City, IA, both in the American Association.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-58366117480602266672014-09-22T16:31:00.000-04:002014-09-22T16:31:07.045-04:00AFTER SIX-GAME SERIES, YORK AND SUGAR LAND NOW SQUARE OFF IN ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFSThe York (PA) Revolution should have a pretty good idea of the best restaurants near their hotel in Sugar Land, TX.<br /><br />Mark Mason’s gang got to Sugar Land last Tuesday (September 16) to begin a season-ending six-game series against the Skeeters, and now the Revolution are there for the first two games of the best-of-five Freedom Division playoff series starting one week later (Tuesday, September 23). Playing long series in Sugar Land is one of the quirks in the Atlantic League schedule until it can add more teams in that region.<br /><br />Sugar Land confidence should be running high since the Skeeters won four of six from York (four of the last five, actually) to capture the second half divisional title. For anyone scratching their head to figure out how Sugar Land won the half-season championship when it actually finished tied with Lancaster, PA, the answer is that the Skeeters won five of nine second-half games from the Barnstormers. The two teams split 20 decisions over the entire campaign.<br /><br />Lancaster’s prize for becoming the wild-card entry in the four-team playoffs is to open with Games 1 and 2 against Somerset, NJ for the Liberty Division title at home. Somerset, which won both halves, will have the remaining games in the five-game set back in New Jersey.<br /><br /><b>RUCINSKI GETS LENGTHY STINT FOR ANGELS</b><br /><br />New major leaguer Drew Rucinski, who spent all of 2012 plus parts of ’11 and ’13 in the Frontier League (Rockford, IL), got an extended outing from the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. The 25-year-old out of Ohio State hurled four innings at home against Texas, allowing three hits and a walk plus two earned runs. The right-hander struck out five.<br /><br />Rucinski, 10-6, 3.15 in 26 starts for Class AA Arkansas this summer, also faced Texas in his only other major league appearance so far, giving up two runs in an inning of work back on July 10.<br /><br /><b>GREAT POWER SEASON FOR MATT FIELDS</b><br /><br />Matt Fields, a onetime Independent Baseball player at Southern Illinois (Marion) of the Frontier League, has pounded 59 home runs the last two seasons in the Kansas City farm system without getting any time with the parent Royals. A first baseman-designated hitter, the 6-foot-5, 235 pounder, hit 28 homers and drove in 81 runs for Omaha this season, then helped the Storm Chasers all the way to the Triple-A championship. He was 1-for-4 in the 4-2 win over Pawtucket, RI (Red Sox) in the title game between the two AAA league winners. The 29-year-old Fields improved his average by 40 points to .262 at Omaha after a 31-homer output when he hit .222 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas one year ago.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-59432462009092781942014-08-29T16:51:00.002-04:002014-08-29T16:51:42.752-04:00RECORD CROWD SAYS GOODBYE IN ST. PAUL; MORE PETE ROSE SIGHTINGS PLUS AFL ASSIGNMENTSLeave it to the St. Paul (MN) Saints. They played their 999th and final game at Midway Stadium Thursday night as they prepare to move into a sparkling new home for American Association games next season, and a franchise record 9,455 fans turned out.<br /><br />The Saints have been a big draw since their very first year (1993) in the Northern League, and this crowd brought the season home total to 248,106, their best since 2009. The fans had to have a nostalgic feeling for Midway because the team is out of playoff contention. Incidentally, St. Paul was beaten by playoff-bound Winnipeg, 4-3.<br /><br /><b>PETE ROSE BACK IN DEMAND FOR TWO INDY APPEARANCES</b><br /><br />The major leagues’ all-time hit king, Pete Rose, has been booked for two more visits to Independent Baseball stadiums before the season ends, following up on his one-day stint earlier as guest manager for the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish of the Atlantic League.<br /><br />Rose will even step into the batter’s box as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning for the Florence (KY) Freedom of the Frontier League on Tuesday (September 2). He will be introduced, then a pinch hitter will replace him and Rose will coach both third and first base for some of the remaining innings.<br /><br />On September 14, he returns to Bridgeport once again in a guest manager slot to take part in Ken Shepard Day activities as the team honors its general manager, who is leaving after the season to continue his fight against Stage 4 kidney cancer.<br /><br /><b>INDEPENDENT PLAYERS, FIELD STAFF HEADED TO ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE</b><br /><br />Two players are among a contingent of at least five people with Independent Baseball credentials headed to the prestigious Arizona Fall League. All represent major league organization now.<br /><br />Right-handed pitchers Brandon Cunniff and Alex Smith are on the rosters announced to this point. Both spent time in the Frontier League. Cunniff, who played for Southern Illinois and River City and now belongs to the Atlanta Braves, will pitch for Peoria. Smith, out of River City and currently in the New York Yankees system, will be with Scottsdale.<br /><br />Onetime Frontier League Manager Andy Haines (Windy City, Dubois County), who has worked his way all the way up to managing Miami’s top minor league club in New Orleans, will lead the Salt River team. Peoria’s co-pitching coaches are Jason Simontacchi and R. C. Lichtenstein. Simontacchi, now coaching in the minors for St. Louis, played for Atlantic League teams in Lancaster, PA, Long Island, NY and Bridgeport as well as for Springfield of the Frontier League. Lichtenstein, a Tampa Bay minor league coach, was involved with Dubois County (and possibly other Indy teams).<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-19739730618870664922014-08-22T17:54:00.000-04:002014-08-22T17:57:44.021-04:00EXPECT MORE MEXICAN LEAGUERS TO SHOW UP; PRAISE HEAPED DO D-BACKS' PERALTA AND THE SCOUT WHO FOUND HIMThe end of the regular Mexican League season a few days ago reminds me we will almost certainly see the return of a number of players to the Atlantic League and perhaps other Independent leagues in the days ahead, often bolstering rosters for the postseason.<br /><br />For example, it would not be surprising to see the top two hitters among the returnees. Batting champion Sandy Madera (.403) and runner-up Chris Roberson (.384) have played Independent Baseball in the past with Madera with the New Jersey Jackals (Can-Am League) on multiple occasions as well as with Newark, NJ, which no longer has a team in either the Atlantic League or the Can-Am. Roberson was at Winnipeg (American Association) as recently as two years ago.<br /><br /><b>MORE PRAISE FOR PERALTA, D-BACKS AND CARMINUCCI</b><br /><br />We have written in this space and our weekly <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> column on various occasions how the Arizona Diamondbacks have been the most active of any major league organization in signing Independent players the last couple of years, largely because onetime Can-Am League and American Association Manager Chris Carminucci is that team’s coordinator of Independent league scouting. J. P. Morosi of FoxSports.com did a lengthy piece on the subject just this week. Excerpts follow:<br /><br />“The lucky ones (scouts) have assignments that fall within a given geographic region. Chris Carminucci, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ coordinator of independent league scouting, is not one of them. And his willingness to go anywhere, in the name of finding talent, is why the fourth-place Diamondbacks can claim one of the best stories in baseball this season: David Peralta, the effervescent 27-year-old rookie outfielder from Venezuela.<br /><br />“I can’t keep track of him (Carminucci),” said Mike Bell, the Diamondbacks’ director of player development. “I don’t know if I’ve ever called him when he’s not in a car driving through Canada, or in Lincoln, Nebraska, or somewhere in the Northeast. Then he gets on a plane and shoots down to Texas.<br /><br />“This guy must have coffee running through his veins. And I’ve never talked with him when he’s not having a good day.”<br /><br />“A slight amendment: Carminucci is having a good year. This season, the Diamondbacks have called up three players Carminucci signed out of independent leagues: infielder Andy Marte, right-hander Bo Schultz, and Peralta. For three indy ball alums to play on the same team is rare. To have one on the fringe of the National League Rookie of the Year discussion . . . well . . . it would be difficult to imagine this sort of baseball tale even while daydreaming in the grandstand at Yogi Berra Stadium – which, by the way, is home to an independent club in Upper Montclair, N.J.<br /><br />“Peralta, who made his major-league debut June 1, is now the Diamondbacks’ everyday right fielder and No. 3 hitter, with All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt lost for the season. Peralta’s .793 OPS ranks among the top 30 major-league outfielders who have at least 250 plate appearances this year. His star rose even higher this month, with a bold steal of home on a lazy throw back to the pitcher by Colorado catcher Michael McKenry. He’s drawn favorable comparisons to Rays outfielder David DeJesus, the smooth, steady, 12-year big leaguer.<br /><br />“And to think: Peralta’s pro baseball career began as a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals’ system. He was released in 2009 after two shoulder surgeries, having never made it out of rookie ball. But Peralta went home to Venezuela, transformed himself into a position player and returned to the U.S. in 2011 as an outfielder with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the North American League . . . which no longer exists.<br /><br />“Once Peralta moved in 2012 to the Wichita Wingnuts of the (higher-profile and still-breathing) American Association, he was on Carminucci’s radar<br /><br />“Every independent league player brings something to the clubhouse: They’ve failed,” said Carminucci, a former independent league player, manager and general manager. “In this game, you have to learn how to fail and get back up and fight. David in particular has done that, but that’s true of these other guys, too. And from the moment he walked into that clubhouse last year, everyone had instant respect for him, because he came all the way back.<br /><br />“There’s a saying in Independent ball: ‘You don’t like where you are? Play better and get out.’<br /><br />“The stellar half-season at Visalia wasn’t enough for Peralta to get an invitation to the Diamondbacks’ major-league spring camp. He made an impression on general manager Kevin Towers, anyway. Added to the roster for a spring game because the Diamondbacks needed an extra outfielder, Peralta grounded a single up the middle and hustled to second on a momentary bobble by the center fielder.<br /><br />“KT was sitting ahead of me,” Bell recalled. “He turned around and asked, ‘Does he always run that good?’ I just said, ‘I can tell you, he always runs that hard.’<br /><br />“There are certain players who have a look about them. That day, a light bulb went off in Kevin’s head, like, ‘This guy’s a big leaguer.’ Kevin started talking about him [as a call-up candidate] real early in the season. It’s funny: That one play in spring training stood out in our GM’s eyes, and it stuck with him all year.”<br /><br />“The irony, of course, is that Carminucci has had little time to admire the ascent of his star signee. He’s too busy trying to find the next David Peralta, while several more of his former independent leaguers are progressing through the Diamondbacks’ system. Nick Sarianides, a 24-year-old reliever, has been dominant at low Class A South Bend; Carminucci found him pitching for a Can-Am League team in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.<br /><br />“Carminucci said he’s grateful that Towers, Bell and chief Diamondbacks scout Bill Bryk value his expertise in what many baseball executives view as a niche market. In contrast to massive amateur scouting departments that cost upwards of $4 million per year – before signing bonuses – only a handful of major-league organizations employ a full-time independent league scout like Carminucci.<br /><br />“Perhaps more of them should.”<br /><br /><b>AMENDING EDWARDS’S PATH TO TEXAS RANGERS</b><br /><br />I made a bobble in yesterday’s <i>Insider</i> when I said new Texas Rangers reliever Jon Edwards had spent time in the American Association (St. Paul, MN). I had read that on a website, but did not double check. Edwards only worked in the Pecos and North American Leagues before Texas signed him.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-22327986694195788052014-08-08T17:58:00.002-04:002014-08-08T17:58:47.894-04:00SEAN BIERMAN KEEPS ADDING TO HIS PITCHING FEATS FOR ROCKLAND COUNTYSean Bierman is doing more than his share to keep Rockland County (Pomona, NY) on the heels of the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) in the Can-Am League race.<br /><br />The 25-year-old left-hander picked up an 11-3 victory Thursday night to move the Boulders within one-half game of New Jersey despite the fact he may not have had his best stuff as evidenced by the fact he allowed 10 hits but only one run in working the first six innings, and improving his record to 8-5 with a tiny 1.88 earned run average.<br /><br />Bierman, a New Jersey native who came out of the University of Tampa, hurled a complete-game three-hitter to defeat the Jackals 1-0 in his previous start. That vaulted him to a second consecutive Pitcher of the Week award and he also took league-wide honors for the month of July. No one had won back-to-back Pitcher of the Week honors since another southpaw, James Leverton, now with Miami’s top farm club in New Orleans, in July of 2011.<br /><br />Bierman has won four straight and seven of eight since July 1 when his ERA was at 2.67.<br /><br /><b>SLAM MAY HAVE COST BO SCHULTZ HIS MAJOR LEAGUE JOB<br /></b><br />Bo Schultz (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) had worked his way up to the parent Arizona Diamondbacks for the second time this season, but his second poor outing in three games since coming up from Reno, NV sent him back to Triple-A once more. Schultz was only charged with two runs in a 4.1 inning relief stint against Kansas City although the first hitter he faced, Norichika Aoki, slugged a grand slam to put the Diamondbacks down, 11-1.<br /><br />Schultz has a 7.88 ERA for his eight innings with Arizona spread over four appearances. He has been 8-7, 5.75 in 21 starts at Reno this season.<br /><br /><b>RARE CYCLE FOR DUCKS<br /><br /></b>I can’t shake the thought of what the Long Island (NY) Ducks did in a recent Atlantic League game.<br /><br />They had a home run cycle, a bases empty job plus round-trippers with one, two and three runners aboard.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-75186198659969157742014-07-25T16:29:00.002-04:002014-07-25T16:29:52.092-04:00SIX-PITCH RULE ALREADY BEING USED; JASON LANE, JAKE FOX SWINGING HOT BATSIt turns out one of the speed-up rules adopted by the Atlantic League has been in play in the Can-Am League and American Association for some time. That is the rule which limits pitches between innings (except in cold weather) to six instead of the normal eight.<br /><br />Miles Wolff, commissioner of those leagues, believes this single step, which does not apply when a pitcher is first entering a game, could be saving seven or eight minutes a game. The veteran executive points out the Carolina League at one time allowed only five pitches.<br /><br />Wolff says when the American Association All-Star Game is played in Winnipeg Tuesday the Can-Am League rule instituted this year whereby when a game gets to the 11th inning each team will start the inning with a runner on second base. That rule will apply if the All-Star contest gets to a 10th inning since the teams will have a limited number of relievers, and most or all of them will be in the game by that time.<br /><br /><b>JASON LANE’S AVERAGE UP TO .419; FOX DRIVING RUNS IN<br /></b><br />Jason Lane, who had a brief recall to the parent San Diego Padres as a pitcher earlier this season, is 5-8, 4.76 after 18 starts for Triple-A El Paso, TX, but the real news may be what this onetime major league outfielder is doing at the plate. He has appeared in 32 games, and after a 3-for-3 performance earlier this week is hitting .419 (18-for-43) with three homers and 10 runs batted in. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) is off the charts at 1.211.<br /><br />2013 Atlantic League Player of the Year Jake Fox, who we probably will pay attention to in next week’s <i>Independent Baseball Insider </i>column, has 42 RBI in 38 games (.343) since joining the Class AA Reading (PA) Fightin Phils from Mexico.<br /><br /><b>TRACKING PLAYER RELEASES</b><br /><br />As always, there have been a few former Indy players released in recent days by major league organizations.<br /><br />One such release was handed to Frank Viola III, trying to make it as a knuckleball pitcher. Toronto dropped the former St. Paul (MN) Saints (American Association) right-hander. Other releases have been felt by RHP Brett Brach (Somerset, NJ, Atlantic League) from Washington, SS Jaime Pedroza (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic) from the Chicago White Sox and 3B Rusty Ryal (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic) by Philadelphia. Pedroza is already back with Lancaster.<br /><br />RHP Mitch Lively, a major league spring training invitee by San Francisco again this year, was released by the Giants, then quickly signed by Washington and sent to Triple-A Syracuse, NY.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-34274029085793107632014-07-18T12:11:00.002-04:002014-07-18T12:11:42.209-04:00VAN STRATTEN MOVES WITHIN TWO OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION'S ALL-TIME HITTING STREAKNick Van Stratten of Laredo, TX extended his American Association hitting streak to 32 games, two shy of Stephen Douglas’s league record, with a single in four at-bats Thursday night. The Lemurs topped host Sioux Falls, SD, 1-0, on John Alonzo’s seventh-inning home run. Van Stratten is on pace to break the record at Grand Prairie, TX this weekend.<br /><br /><b>HERE AND THERE</b><br /><br />Bouncing around with a few former Independent players now in major league organizations:<br /><br />**Jerome Williams (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League, and Long Beach, CA, Golden League), released recently by Houston, made his first start for Texas’s top farm club in Round Rock, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings.<br /><br />**First baseman Brock Peterson (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic) is taking advantage of his new organization (Los Angeles Dodgers), hitting a homer and double in five at-bats for Albuquerque, NM, Thursday night with his average at .375 (18-for-48) in 14 games. He has three homers and nine RBI.<br /><br />**Julio DePaula, who jumped from York, PA (Atlantic) to the parent Baltimore Orioles in a mere 11 days, returned to Class AA Bowie, MD, but has allowed four runs in as many innings over three outings. Still, in six appearances overall with Bowie, DePaula has two saves and a 3.48 ERA while posting 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings.<br /><br />**Lefty Greg Smith (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) has a winning record (7-6) and a 3.86 ERA in 18 starts for Philadelphia’s top club, Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA).<br /><br />**Outfielder Cory Aldridge (Somerset, NJ, and Newark, NJ, Atlantic) is hitting .333 (10-for-30) with a .432 on-base percentage in 10 games since Toronto promoted him to Triple-A Buffalo, NY.<br /><br /><b>RE-ENTERING GAMES NOW POSSIBLE</b><br /><br />One unique aspect of the Atlantic League’s speed-up rules is that even a player who has been taken out of the game may serve as the substitute runner for a catcher. He could even be used multiple times so some creative team may look for a speedster who would serve primarily in that role.<br /><br />To clarify from yesterday’s <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> column, umpires will be allowed to give a batter an automatic ball if the team in the field uses more than the allowable 45 seconds for a mound visit if the pitcher is not relieved.<br /><br /><br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b> <p><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913613.post-54262461304908021342014-07-15T18:33:00.001-04:002014-07-15T18:47:59.146-04:00NEW TEXAS FARMHAND HAMREN WAS HAPPY WITH ATLANTIC LEAGUE ALL-STAR SELECTIONWhile the major leaguers have their All-Star Game tonight (Tuesday), we will be watching no less than four minor league classics Wednesday since two are Independents (Atlantic and Frontier) and the other two (Triple-A, Eastern League) have a number of former Indy players. Our regular <i>Independent Baseball Insider</i> column will have all of the details for subscribers on Thursday<br />.<br />One pitcher who must have some mixed emotions is right-handed reliever Erik Hamren, who was chosen to represent Southern Maryland (Waldorf) in the Atlantic League contest in Sugar Land, TX, then had his contract sold to the Texas Rangers.<br /><br />"I was excited to get the news (of the All-Star selection)," the 27-year-old had told <i>SoMdNews.com</i>. "It's near the top (of my career achievements), just simply to be recognized in a league with a lot of great talent." Hamren's goal, like every minor leaguer, is to get to the majors where he enjoyed a stay with San Diego (1-0, 4.38 in 14 appearances) three years ago. Hamren was having a strong campaign with the Blue Crabs (42 strikeouts in 37.1 innings with a 2.41 ERA in 36 games), and started well in the Class AA Texas League with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts for Frisco.<br /><br /><b>NEWEST MAJOR LEAGUERS</b><br /><br />Two onetime Indy southpaws earned major league promotions in recent days, Ryan Feierabend (York, PA, Atlantic League) with Texas and Kris Johnson (Kansas City, KS, American Association) with Minnesota. Feierabend, 8-5, 4.54 in 19 starts for Triple-A Round Rock, TX, had not been in the majors since stints with Seattle in 2006-7-8. He worked 1.1 innings (one run) over the weekend for the Rangers. Johnson is in his second stint with the Twins this season.<br /><br /><b>COELLO REAPPEARS IN BALTIMORE ORGANIZATION</b><br /><br />Former Golden League pitcher Robert Coello, a major league spring training invitee of the New York Yankees but released recently out of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA, signed with Baltimore over the weekend and one day later picked up a save for Triple-A Norfolk, VA.<br />Other players who have drawn their walking papers from organizations in recent days include former Can-Am League batting star Bridger Hunt from San Diego and Continental League pitcher Brandon Sisk from the Los Angeles Angels<br /><br /><b>A REAL CHAMPION</b><br /><br />New Grand Prairie, TX Manager Eric Champion brings an impressive resume to the American Association team. He led Baptist Christian to back-to-back small-college national championships. Champion replaced Ricky VanAsselberg at Grand Prairie. He had been the bench coach.<br /><p ALIGN=CENTER><b><a href="http://www.wirzandassociates.com/" target="top">SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER.</a> New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99</b><br /><br /><b><a href=" http://www.wirzandassociates.com/column/sample_column_request.html ">REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER</a></b> <br /><p>Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: <a href="http://www.independentbaseballtrivia.com/indy-baseball-chatter/">Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions</a></p>Bob Wirz, author, Independent Baseball Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271728075023143363noreply@blogger.com0